​MINNEAPOLIS – August 10, 2016 – CenterPoint Energy employee and Minneapolis resident, Gina Swanson, was recently recognized as a CenterPoint Energy Outstanding Volunteer for exceptional service to her local community. She, along with nine other outstanding volunteers, were awarded a $500 Grant Incentive for Volunteers (GIVE) for donation to the nonprofit organization of her choice.

Swanson, an operations generalist for CenterPoint Energy, serves on the church council and has taught Sunday school at Faith Lilac Way Church in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. She also volunteers regularly with Junior Achievement and is a regular blood and platelet donor. “I’ve always been passionate about youth – both because I have children myself and because it makes such a difference in young people’s lives when someone cares enough to take time to work with them,” said Swanson. “If you can find something that touches or helps another person, then it’s worth it.”

Each year, CenterPoint Energy recognizes ten employees from across its service territory for the company’s Outstanding Volunteer Award. Recipients are selected based on their volunteer efforts within the company and their local communities.

“These volunteers reflect the caring, unselfish spirit that many of our company’s employees demonstrate in their communities,” said Diane Englet, senior director of Corporate Community Relations at CenterPoint Energy. “CenterPoint Energy is proud to partner with community organizations like this to build inclusive and sustainable communities in each of the areas that we serve.”

To learn more about what CenterPoint Energy is doing in your community, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Community.

Recent News

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Spring Branch resident and CenterPoint Energy engineering manager,

​Houston – December 6, 2016 – CenterPoint Energy engineer manager Lydia Mares has been appointed by Mayor Turner to join the City of Houston Planning Commission. "It is an honor to be a part of this board, working alongside exceptional and talented community members to improve our city," said Lydia Mares, natural gas engineering manager for CenterPoint Energy.

The Planning Commission is in charge of the approval of subdivision and development plats in the City and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Also, this commission adopts a comprehensive plan, including a City Council Annual Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan, and recommends it to City Council for its approval. The members also conduct hearings, grant variances or waivers and make recommendations to City Council under the provisions of various City land use ordinances.

Mares is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Texas and her duties with the company include managing the system and public improvement work for the gas distribution systems in the Houston and Texas Coast areas. "Lydia is a dynamic engineer and a self-starter. Her expertise and knowledge are great assets to our company and will prove to be valuable to her newly appointed position with the planning commission. We know that she will proudly exemplify CenterPoint Energy's values and do excellent work for the City," said Tal Centers, Vice President of Safety and Gas System Integrity.

The Planning Commission, a 26-member board appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council includes citizens, elected officials and the Director of Planning and Development. The Commission reviews and approves subdivision and development plats. The Commission also studies and makes recommendations to City Council on development issues in Houston.

CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company also owns a 55.4 percent limited partner interest in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp., which owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With more than 7,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 140 years. For more information, visit the website at www.CenterPointEnergy.com.

CenterPoint Energy presents check to Pet Solutions for their participation in the Commercial and Industrial Solutions Program

CenterPoint Energy Commercial and Industrial Solutions Program helps customers save energy and money by providing no-cost facility improvement recommendations and financial incentives based on the total amount of energy the equipment will save.

"After participating in our program, CenterPoint Energy offered Pet Solutions a financial incentive to make the changes that will allow them to improve energy efficiency," said Lance Orton, Energy Efficiency Consultant for CenterPoint Energy. "Pet Solutions worked with our program administrator to find opportunities around natural gas efficiency, so they could benefit not only from the monetary incentive, but also from future years of energy and utility bill savings."

The Pet Solutions upgrades will save more than 425,486 CCF of natural gas a year, equal to preventing the average annual natural gas usage of 1,050 homes, according to Environmental Protection Agency calculations.

"The field engineer from the Commercial and Industrial Solutions Program was very knowledgeable and offered advice on how to maximize the energy saving opportunities available to Pet Solutions. It was simple to initiate the projects and the whole process went smoothly," said Dan Price, Division Manager in charge of the project. "Pet Solutions continues to seek additional energy saving opportunities in an effort to become a more energy-conscious company."

About Pet Solutions

Pet Solutions, located in Danville, AR, is managed by Monett, MO based 3D Corporate Solutions. The Danville facility opened in 2004 and produces value-added ingredients for the Pet Food Industry. The plant and its employees are valued partners of the Danville community. To learn more about Pet Solutions, please visit www.3dsolutions.com.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company also owns a 55.4 percent limited partner interest in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp., which owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With more than 7,800 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 140 years. For more information, visit the website at www.CenterPointEnergy.com.

Natural gas service restoration in Paragould, Ark.

​HOUSTON – December 2, 2016 – Following a natural gas outage affecting more than 400 customers on the east side of Paragould, Ark., CenterPoint Energy has restored service to all customers who have provided the company access to perform safety checks and relight pilots.

Customers have been without gas service because of a disruption in the natural gas supply that occurred Thursday afternoon.

"We greatly appreciate our customers' cooperation and patience as our employees worked as quickly as we could to safely restore natural gas service," said Terry Rollins, district director for CenterPoint Energy.

A small number of customers still remain without service because CenterPoint Energy employees were not able to access their home or business. The relighting process requires CenterPoint Energy employees to have access to each location to light pilots and check to make sure it is safe to resume service.

"A customer needs to call us only if there is a door hanger at their home or business indicating that we've already been by to attempt to restore service," Rollins said. "Please call the number on the door tag left by our service personnel."

CenterPoint Energy making significant progress restoring service following natural gas outage in Paragould

​HOUSTON – December 2, 2016 - CenterPoint Energy has made progress in restoring natural gas service to approximately 450 customers in Paragould, Ark. Customers have been without gas service because of a disruption in the company's gas supply which occurred yesterday afternoon.

"We called in additional employees from other parts of Arkansas which allowed us to turn off each customer's meter yesterday," said Terry Rollins, district director for CenterPoint Energy. "We are now beginning the process of going home to home to restore service to each customer."

The relighting process requires CenterPoint Energy employees to have access to each location to light pilots and check to make sure it is safe to resume service.

"We understand this is an inconvenience, but we appreciate our customers' cooperation and patience," Rollins said. "If at all possible, we'd like to ask that customers be at home since it is necessary for our employees to go inside to restore natural gas service.

"A customer needs to call us only if there is a door hanger at their home or business indicating that we've already been by to attempt to restore service. Please call the number on the door tag left by our service personnel."

For safety reasons, the company urges customers not to turn any valves or tamper with the natural gas meter. Opening or turning any valves could allow air to enter the natural gas lines, which would hinder the re-pressurization process.

"We estimate that all customers who are home will have service restored by this evening," Rollins said.

​Houston – December 1, 2016 - CenterPoint Energy is experiencing a natural gas outage on the east side of Paragould, Arkansas that is affecting about 450 customers.

"Safety is our number one priority as we work to restore natural gas service," said Terry Rollins, district director for CenterPoint Energy. "As part of our procedure, we have begun the process this afternoon of turning off each customer's natural gas meter; our goal is to have each meter turned off by later this evening.

"We will then work to ensure that the natural gas distribution lines are clear of air. Once the lines are clear, our certified service technicians will begin performing a series of safety checks to ensure there is no risk involved in restoring gas service," Rollins added. "To perform these inspections, CenterPoint Energy service technicians will need to enter each home or business; we expect this process to begin tomorrow morning and continue throughout the day tomorrow. We have also brought in technicians from other parts of the state to assist in restoring gas service."

"There is no need to call us as we make our initial assessments," Rollins said. "We anticipate restoring service to most customers by end of day tomorrow. At this time, no action is required on the part of the customer. If an adult over age 18 is not at the service address when a technician arrives, the company will leave a door hanger with instructions."

For safety reasons, the company urges customers not to turn any valves or tamper with the natural gas meter. Opening or turning any valves could allow air to enter the natural gas lines, which would hinder the restoration process.